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Detectives held a press conference in Kos at 09:00 local time on Tuesday to launch the fresh appeal

His mother Kerry has always maintained her son, who would now be 26, is alive and was probably abducted.

According to the newspaper, after the news conference at about 17:00 local time, the officers gathered for drinks at their hotel before heading to a pizzeria and bars.

The last members of the team finished the session shortly before 01:30, it said.

Earlier this year, the force secured £450,000 from the Home Office to help in the search.

‘Working really hard’

Ben vanished after travelling to the island with his mother and grandparents who were renovating a run-down farmhouse building in the village of Iraklis.

Det Sup Matt Fenwick, currently in Kos, told the paper the team was “desperately” trying to find the youngster and that officers were “working really hard”.

He said: “We were up at seven this morning and we’ve got officers still out now (at 20:30) interviewing people.

“What I can say is that no public money was spent on alcohol.”

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The police press conference was held at the farmhouse where Ben disappeared on 24 July 1991

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “We’re absolutely committed to this investigation and require the highest possible standards from all of those involved. The team must now get on with the important task in hand.

“Following concerns raised regarding the behaviour of some of those involved, the senior officer has been recalled to the UK with immediate effect to provide the details of exactly what has happened. An internal investigation will follow.”